79,000 post-it notes bring attention to sex trafficking in Texas

An Austin non-profit is bringing attention to victims of sex trafficking in a big way.

Author: Erin Jones

Published: 12:14 AM CST November 20, 2017

Updated: 1:31 PM CST November 20, 2017

An Austin non-profit is bringing attention to victims of sex trafficking in a big way.

Over the last three days, volunteers with The Refuge put up 79,000 post-it notes on the windows of the West Elm in downtown Austin. That's how many human trafficking victims are in Texas, according to recent University of Texas study.

"86 percent of the kids who are being trafficked in Texas are from foster homes or the CPS system," The Refuge Communications Director Steven "Flyer" Phenix said. "These are the most vulnerable, most disposable kids and no ones out there looking for them."

To help, volunteers are opening The Refuge Ranch. It's expected to open in Austin next summer and will take in 50 sex trafficking victims all under the age of 20.

They said in preparation they're asking people to purchase furniture and decorative items to fill the ranch.